- MITCH M. LIPA
Javier “Javi” Benitez, son of Negros Occidental provincial economic consultant Alfredo Benitez, participated in the first-ever blended virtual and physical press conference for a multi-sectoral coalition championing energy transformation and climate action in the Philippines.
The young Benitez, who represented the youth sector, told the more than 1,700 participants in his opening message of the need to identify more renewable energy sources and implement the Green Energy Option Program.
The event, on the theme “Vision 20/30: Powering and Empowering Filipinos towards a #BrighterFutureToday”, was held at Rockwell Center in Makati City last week.
Benitez said the country needs climate-smart industries and more green jobs to fuel the economy into a sustainable development pathway. He asked participants to focus on the objectives of the convergence, and called them to action.
The discussions focused on the critical need of the country to respond and recover fast from the economic impact and human devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The exchange of ideas centered on the challenges of multi-sectoral investment on climate-proof and economically-smart renewable energy that will put the nation on the right track towards a total energy transformation.
Department of Finance Assistant Secretary Paola Alvarez, who was the Philippine Sherpa representative to the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, gave the keynote address.
Event partners included the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, Management Association of the Philippines, Connected Women, and the Philippine Science High School National Alumni Association. – MML
